Thought processes and conversations started under the tilted cap of Tropicana Field. Someday everyone will know the Rays play in St. Petersburg, Florida, not TAMPA, or the fictitious city of TAMPA BAY.

Pssst, MLB.com, I Would LOVE a Chance to Attend the 2012 Winter Meetings

I can hardly wait until November 26th. I mean I have as good as odds as anyone to possibly get a phone call from MLB.com to shadow a MLB.com writer during the 2012 Winter Meeting that will be held in Nashville, Tenn between December 3-6 2012. I mean Nashville is one of those town yearning for Baseball, and not just on the television series “Nashville”.

I’m not a “Winter Meeting” vet like so many other fans or MLBlogs.com participants, but I have strolled the halls of a past Winter Meeting held in the town that Mickey Mouse built (Orlando,Fl) and got to meet and greet a lot of the other fans, journalists and even a few General Managers and front office people I have gotten to know from my past “Rays days” as their Pepsi rep.

But it going to take at lead one ringy-dingy from someone within the offices of MLB.com to take this dream and adventure to the next level. I would fly strapped to the wing of the plane, but a Coach seat would be better on my overall traveling appearance so I do not show up looking like I got dumped out a wind tunnel and got a few dozen bird feather or bug remnants in my teeth.

Heck, MLB.com did not have to get me a quality room, the KOA would suit me just fine as long as the shower water is hot and the tent dry. But that is one of the special things about staying within striking distance of an event like this, you never know who you might take an elevator with, sit near at lunch, dinner or late night nibble. I mean in O-town I got to chat with Cal Ripken Jr in the elevator and shot the breeze with A J Pierzenski as he awaited his car. Those moments are still fresh in my mind, and I want more….

This kind of contest is made for someone like me, not because I write a MLB blog, but would give me the kind of access and experience that could possibly one day be pushed forward to me getting full media credentials instead of my current Photo creds to cover and write about the Rays Concert Series and special events like “Pitchers and Catcher’s Report Day. It would bring another drop of legitimate journalistic experience to type onto an MLB media request and could be just the turning point I have seeking for the last 5 years to cover my hometown Rays a bit deeper and with more clarity and substance.

Of course a $1,000 check waiting for me would be a pleasant surprise, with most of that booty turned around and popped into goodies and presents vis MLB.com’s Team Store. But there is also such more to these Winter Meetings that even that kind of money can’t buy. Players and their agents will also be in the halls, seating areas and all around the event and maybe I could get a few special seconds with one of the highly regarded Free Agents (maybe B J Upton) and do a clever, but respectful interview. The potential of winning this event and what could transpire are endless, almost to the point of infinity.

One of the best parts of winning something like this is the pure and special fact I will be able to be the shadow or fly-on-the-wall with one of MLB.com’s own. Of course I already have a current and long time MLB.com writer in mind to shadow during the Winter Meetings, and he already knows me from my photos and posts already with the Tampa Bay Rays.

That’s right, if I somehow answer my telephone when MLB.com calls, I would pick my hometown MLB.com writer and author Bill Chastain. I mean Chastain not only has a bevy and treasure trove of Rays information, he has also been the author of several baseball and non- roundball books and is well respected in the MLB.com offices and around the MLB…period.

Now all I have to do is cross everything on my body and possibly even my eyes hoping that even the slightest possible chance is within my grasp on that faithful November 26th day that the special administrator of the independent judging organization picked by MLB.com will somehow finds my 10-digit phone number in his eyesight.

But then again I was inducted in the Rays/Pepsi Fans Wall of Fame as “Mr. Lucky” so I got that little slice of karma on my side. Just got to remember to charge the phone that day and keep it close. You never know, weirder things have come true for me in my insane MLB life.

If you also want to take a chance and possibly get a call to visit Nashville, click this link and take a chance….What you got to lose…

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